Oklahoma football team comes together after tornado

More than 20 players had their homes torn apart in May

Three months after a tornado struck, Southmoore High School players and coaches took the field Tuesday night, sending a message that nothing can tear their team apart.

On Day 1 of practices, expectations were high.

“All the houses were just flat and we just like automatically knew that our house was probably gone,” said Lane Soltero, a cornerback.

On the field, Soltero shuts down receivers. It’s one of the few places he can shut out the memory of May 20.

“I feel fortunate that our family was OK and nobody was in the house,” he said.

Soltero’s house suffered the same fate as more than 20 teammates’ houses. It was torn apart in seconds.

“That one room that she was in, her room, in her closet was still standing,” said Justin James, a running back. “That was it. That was it. It was still standing.”

James’ mother somehow survived.

“When something like this happens, you really get to know everybody in more of a personal type nature,” James said.

The team turned into a family and offered a return to normal life.

“Football’s like our second home, so that didn’t change,” James said. “Every day, you hit these dudes and they hit you. I mean, that’s what you got to do on the field, but off the field you’re like best friends and stuff.”

Friends who say come Friday night they’ll be ready.

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